Knitting machine



y 1-938. v. LOMBARDI 2,124,303

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m m a m 0 l M m m ATTORNEY July 19, 1938. v. LOMBARDI KNITTING momma Filed Jan. so, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR V/f7C6/7f [omard/ ATTO R N EY July 19, 1938. v. LOMBARDI 2,124,303

' KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. so, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR Vmmmlongam? ATTORNEY WW/M, m,

V. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1936 4 sheets-sheet 4 i w\ WIWWH, mmw m wO/m M A v N MW CY M J 3 1 an & t

Patented July 19, 1938 Vincent Lombardi, Garden City, N. Y., assignor to Lombardi Knitting Machine Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 30, 1936, Serial No. 61,516

2': Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines.

An object ofthe invention is the provision of an accurate, readily operated machine whereby deslgnfabrics may be produced in a simple and effective manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed, readily operated machine whereby a wide variability in pattern formation may be had.

Another object is the provision of a control element for knitting machines of such character that an accurate andcertain adjustment thereof may be readily eifectuated.

Other objects of the invention will in part be 16 obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplifled in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature andobjects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in-

which: I

Figure 1 is a plan view of'a portion of a ma- .chine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; a Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of one of the pattern wheel portions shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 6-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a cam elementshown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end view on a reduced scale of a portion of the mechanism at the lower left hand side of the machine as viewed in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the inserts of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a modifled form of rotatable pattern means;

Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view along the lines Ill-l0 of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the inserts shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Pattern wheels have long been used for the setting of various elements in a needle bed and pattern drums have likewise been used for such purpose. Similarly, various types of rotary patjacks, etc., the actuation taking place at the various levels depending upon the character of the needle or Jack, or other element. However.

it is widely recognized that pattern wheels are distinctly limited in the designs which they can 5 produce, and that the change from one pattern wheel to another requires the stopping of the machine, with consequent delays in production, necessity for continuous attention, and danger that the yarns or certain of the parts will acci- 1o dentally be moved out of position during the replacement operation. Drum machines, whether of the single-level or multiple-level type. are exceedingly complicated, cumbersome and expensive. and the use of multiple-level drums re 15 quires a particular arrangement of the elements upon which the drum operates, and involves a definite limitation on the pattern formation.

With the foregoing and other considerations in view, the present invention contemplates the 20 provision of a machine embodying a rotary pattern unit wherein there are provided a pin-- rality of rows of selective means, and embodying means for bringing one or another of said rows into operative position. The rows of selective 25 means may be in the form of pattern wheels, in the form of rows of elements removably or otherwise disposed on the rotary unit, or in other suitable form. r

In my co-pending applications, Serial No. 680.- 30 168, filed July 13, 1933, and Serial No.'72o,921, flied April 17, 1934, there are disclosed actuable elements for knitting needles and the like which are in the form of rockers adapted to be set in one of a multiplicity of lateral positions by a 35 pattern wheel or the like and to be selected and moved by a cam depending upon which of said positions they are in. Various means for holding such rockers in their said positions are disclosed in the above noted and other of my co- 4o pending-applications and these have operated effectively for many purposes. However, in many types of machines the maximum of precision of operation is highly desirable, and mail machines any increase in accuracy, results in a more sat- 45 isfactory machine. With the foregoing in view, the invention in certain of its aspects contemplates the provision of a control element which will be retained in a set position with such certainty that an exceedingly high degree of as- 50 surance of accuracy in operation may be had.

While a particular form of machine is exemplified herein, it will be appreciated that the elements operated upon may be of any desired type; that the bed on which they are carried may desired form or shape.

In the form of construction exemplified, there is provided a bed 5 which, in the present instance, is in the form of a stationary cylinder formed with slots 6 in which needles 1 are slidably mounted. Beneath each needle there is progaged by a cam ll carriedby a revolving support l2; the shoulders 9 and I9 being so disposed that when the lower portion of the rocker is entirely within the slot 6, neither shoulder will be engaged by the cam, but that when the shoulder 9 protrudes from the slot, it will be engaged by the cam II and the rocker and needle advanced a predetermined distance, and so-that when the shoulder l9 protrudes from the slot, this shoulder will be engaged by the cam II and the rocker and needle advanced a greater distance. Movable with the support I2 are a suitable number of yarn feeds of any well known or suitable type, and actuator mechanism, including a like number of cams H and of other elements hereinafter to be exemplified.

In the present instance, each rocker is formed with a forked upper portion including outwardly resilient prongs i3 and i4. The support i2 carries an. annular member l5 adapted to bear against the prong i3, so as to compress the prongs slightly between the annular member and the bed and to provide a resilient grip which will tend to hold the rocker accurately in the position in which it has been set. As will be observed, the prongs l3 and I4 are provided with curved surfaces I6 and i1 respectively, to facilitate the pivotal movement of the member whereby the lower portion is set in the desired position for proper operation of the cam Ii, and the annular member i5 is formed with a curved-base recess l9 of such nature that the surface l9 will readily swing therein. As will be apparent from Fig. 5, the member I5 is cut away at l9 above the recess i9 and even therewith at those .portions where the cams operate, so that the member will hold the rocker in the slot during the cam operation, but will permit ready longitudinal movement thereof. Each of the rockers is provided with a depending butt 29 having an inner edge 2! adapted to be engaged by any of a suitable number of cams 2i, so as to swing the lower portion of the rocker laterally into a fully swung outward position wherein the shoulder i9 may be engaged by the cam ll. Each rocker is likewise provided with an actuable portion 22 whereby the lower end of the'rocker may be pressed inwardly part way, or all the way. as desired, so as to move the shoulder I 9, or both of the shoulders 9 and i0, out of cam-engaging position.

In order to effectuate the inward swinging movements of the-rockers, there are provided a suitable number of rotatable pattern means in the form of pattern units 24 each comprising a plurality of pattern wheel portions 25, each serving to provide a row of selective means adapted to act selectively upon the actuable portions 22 of the rockers 8. Each pattern wheel 25 in the present instance, is selectively formed to provide 2,124,303 be stationary or movable, and may be of any long actuator portions 26 at certain positions thereon, short actuator portions 21 at other positions, and no actuator portions at still other positions indicated at 29; so that, where a long actuator-portion contacts with the actuable portion 22- 5 of a-rocker, the rocker will be swung entirely within the slot 6 so as to permit the cam Ii to pass the rocker without moving it; where a short actuator portion 21 contacts with the portion 22, the rocker will be swung enough to move the 10 shoulder l9 within the slot 6 so as to permit the shoulder 9 to be engaged by the cam Ii; and where no actuator portion is on the pattern wheel where it comes into proximity to the portion 22, the rocker will be left in the position in which 15 it was placed by the cam 2| and the shoulder ID will be engaged by the cam II.

The pattern wheel unit comprises a central post 29 on which there are carried the various pattern wheels 25, upper and lower plates 30 and 30a, a collar 3!, a plate Ma, and a gear 32. The wheels 25 and plates 39 .and 39a are alig'ned by means of a pin 33, and the various rotatable portions are clamped together by nuts 34 threaded on the post 29. Bhe gear 32 meshes with a gear 35 on the bed 5. In order to assure that each actuator portion 26 or 21 will exactly meet an actuable portion 22, there is provided adjustable means comprising screws 36 extending thru posts 31 carried by the plate a and bearing against posts 39 extending from the plate am. By turning the screws 36, the unit 24 may be swung in one direction or the other to move the actuator portions on the wheels exactly to a position where the actuator elements will meet the actuable elements squarely and without tendency to bend or break the same.

In accordance with the present invention, the post 29 is vertically adjustable so that any desired one of the wheels 25 may be brought into 40 the position occupied in the figure by the lowermost wheel wherein the desired wheel will selectively actuate the aligned actuable portions 22 of the rockers 9. To this end, the lower end of the'post 29 is in tubular form, as indicated at 45 39, to receive an upright-bearing post 40, carried by the support i2, and the post 29 is slidably mounted in a bearing 4i carried by a removable casing 45 which forms a part of the support i2 and serves to enclose the wheels and the gearing. In order that the post may be slid in its hearings to bring any desired one of the wheels 26 into operative position, there is provided adjusting means comprising a bracket 46 having arms 41 carrying rounded portions 49 fitting between plates 49 on a head 50 which is threaded on the upper end of the post 29, so that a swinging movement of the bracket on a pivot 5| will cause the post 29 to be raised or lowered. At the other side of the pivot from the arms 41 the bracket is formed with an arm 52 having a surface 53 so inclined that a pressing movement of a given extent at different points along this surface will impart to the bracket when it is not otherwise held such movement as will bring one or another of the wheels 26 into operative position. Normally the bracket is held in adjusted position by means of a catch 54 fitting into one or another of the notches of a ratchet 65 carried on the lower end of the arm 52; a spring 56 being provided to hold the bracket against the catch. The position of the bracket 49 and. of the post 29 having been adjusted, as by means hereinafter to be described, so as to bring-one or another of the wheels 25 in line with the portions 22, the 7 machine will operate with the actuators 26 and 21 on the operative pattern wheel serving to selectively thrust inwardly those rockers which have been swung out by the cam 2 I, whereupon the cam II will selectively act onthe rockers, depending on their setting,'to advance the rockers and the needles, the cam il operating after the portion I! has passed beyond the rockers. After the needles have selectively taken a yarn from a yarn feed in any well known or suitable manner, those needles which have been advanced may be retracted, as by a stitch cam 51. Ordinarily a pattern wheel unit with its associated axis is provided at each yarn feed.

In order to operate the bracket 46 in a predetermined manner to impart a desired succession of designs to a fabric being formed, there is provided control means 69 which is immovable with respect to the needle bed, being stationary when the bed is stationary as in the exemplified construction, so as to be operative once in every revolution of the actuating mechanism. Any desired number of suchcontrol means may, of course, be provided. The exemplified control means comprises a control cam plate 60, carried by a plate 6| supported on posts 62 which are mounted for vertical sliding movement in a frame 63, to permit the cam plate 60 to be raised to one or another of positions a, b, c, and d indicated in Fig. 2, such that a bracket 46 will contact therewith .at various points along the surface 53. Between the lower ends of the posts 62 there extends a cross piece 64 carrying a downward projection 65. One arm 66 of a lever member pivoted at 61 bears against the lower portion of the projection and the other arm 66 of this lever is in the form of a trip member and extends alongside of a shift wheel 69 having generally radial slots I in its periphery. Selectively disposed in these slots to provide the desired control for the pattern are a plurality of inserts 1| which are formed (Fig. 8) with lateral grooves 12 to engage the edges of the slot and with projections of various extents radial of the wheel, as indicated at 13a (Fig. 8) and 13b, 13c, and 13d (Fig. 7). The wheel 69 is rotated periodically by any suitable means, such as a pattern chain, so as to bring one slot after another past the arm 66. When a slot without an insert H moves a past the arm 68, the posts 62 and-plate 6| will not be moved upwardly. When-a slot with an insert-13a moves past the arm 66, the posts will be raised to move the cam plate 60 to the position a in Fig. 2. When a slot with an insert 13!) moves past the arm 66, the posts will -be raised to move the cam plate 66 to the position b in Fig. 2. When a'slot with an insert 130 moves past the arm 66, the posts will be raised to move the cam plate. 66 to the position 0 in Fig. 2. When a slot with an insert 13d moves past the arm 66, the posts will be raised to move the cam plate 66 to the position d in Fig. 2. The inserts are held in the wheel 69 by means of screws I4 extending into openings 15 in the wheel.

In order to release the catch to permit the bracket 46 to be moved by the spring 56 to such position as is permitted by the positioning of the cam member 60, there is provided a cam 19 on horizontally slidable posts 60. When the cam is projected toward the bed it serves, as a member 8| passes the cam 19, to press downwardly the member 8|, the member 6| is connected with the catch 54, and in order that the catch may be accurately adjusted, so that it will hold the bracket 46 in such position that the operative wheel 26 will be accurately disposed, the

connection between the member II and the catch 54 is of an adjustable nature and comprises a screw 62 threaded thru the member 6i and bearing against the catch 64 and a screw "threaded thru the member 6| and extending thru an opening 64 in the catch 66. The member 6| is supported by an arm 65 pivoted at 66 and having fastened thereto one end of a spring 61 which serves to hold the catch 64 normally in one of the notches at the lower end of the bracket 46. Accordingly when the member 6| passes the cam 19 when the latter is in an inwardly projecting position, the cam I9 will press the member 8| downwardly against the pull of the spring 61 and will remove the catch II from its notch, allowing the spring 66 to pull the bracket 46 against the' needle bed, the spring 61 permitting such slipping movement of the catch.

The cam 19 and posts 80 are held in an outward position when the posts 62 are in a downward position, by means of cam members 88 depending from the plate 6i and bearing against a cross piece 69 on the-posts 80. Upon the upward movement of the posts 62 by any of the projections 13a, 13b, 13c, and 1312, however, the cam members 68 are removed from their position against the cross piece and the cross piece and the posts 66 are slid inwardly by a spring 89' to move the cam 19 in the path of the member 8|.

As will be understood, the invention in its broader aspects contemplates the provision of a wide variety of forms of rotary pattern units. By way oi. example, there is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 a form of construction wherein the pattern unit comprises a hub portion 90 formed with notches ill in its periphery, and also upper and lower plates 92 and 93 connected by axial members 94 providing therebetween slots 94a which are aligned with the notches 6|. In each slot there are selectively disposed inserts 95 such as shown in Fig. 11. Each insert is formed with a head, the heads on various ones of the inserts being of different extent in the present instance, as indicated at 96c and 96b, and inserts are omitted from certain of the slots 96a, so that a three-eil'ect row of selective means may be provided. In the present instance there are provided four such rows. as indicated at A, B, C, and

D which are adapted to be placed in operative position by the disposal of the cam member 60 in one. or another of the positions a, b, c, and d, respectively. The rows of inserts are separated by spacer plates 91. and these plates, together with the upper and lower plates 92 and 93. are formed with holes thruwhich pins 96 are adapted to be thrust; each insert being formed at each edge with a notch 96 adapted to'receive the pins to hold the inserts firmly in position. g It will thus be seen that there are provided a plurality of rows of, selective means each adapted to be brought into a position to selectively operate aligned actuable portions with ease and efiectiveness, and also selectiveelements of an improved type; by means of which design fabrics may be produced in a highly satisfactory manner.

Since certain changes may be made in the above actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism Y '55 construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1; In a circular knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative rotation on an axis extending thru the center of said bed, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and having actuable portions adapted to be aligned, and pattern means constituting a part of said actuator mechanism and rotatable on its axis in response to said relative rotation and formed to provide a plurality of rows 01 selective means each adapted when brought into a given position to selectively and directly actuate the aligned actuable portions, said rotatable pattern means being movably mounted to permit one or another of said rows of selective means to be brought into said position as desired.

2. In a knitting machine comprising a knitting bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and having actuable portions adapted to be aligned, pattern means constituting a part of said actuator mechanismand rotatable inresponse to said relative movement and formed to provide a plurality of rows of selective means each adapted when brought into a given position to selectively and directly actuate the aligned actuable portions, and means to bring one or another of said rows of selective means into said position as desired.

3. In a knitting machine comprising a knitting bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and having actuable portions adapted to be aligned, pattern means constituting a part of said actuator mechanism and rotatable in response to said relative movement and formed to provide a plurality of rows of selective means each adapted when brought into a given position to selectively and directly actuate the aligned actuable portions, and pattern controlled means for bringing various ones of said rows of selective means into said position irom time to time during the operation of said machine.

4. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and having actuable portions adapted to be aligned, and a pattern member constituting part of said actuator'mechanism and rotatable in response to said relative movement and including means providing aplurality of rows of selective means, each adapted when brought into a given position to selectively and directly actuate the aligned actuable portions, said rotatable pattern member being movably mounted to permit one or another of said rows of selective means to be brought into said position as desired, and said row-providing means being formed to permit the alteration of the character of the selective means in any individual ones of said rows.

5. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for a relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and having actuable portions adapted to be aligned, a rotatable pattern member constituting part of said actuator mechanism and including means providing a plurality of rows of selective means, each adapted when brought'into a given position to selectively actuate the aligned actuable portions, said rotatable pattern member being movably mounted to permit one or another of said rows of selective means to be brought into said position as desired, said row-providing means comprising a plurality of pattern wheels each providing a multiplicity of selectively disposed actuator portions, and means to mount said wheels to permit them to be removed and replaced.

6. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and having actuable portions adapted to be aligned, a pattern member constituting part of said actuator mechanism and rotatable in response .to said relative movement and including means providing a plurality of rows of selective means, each adapted when brought into a given position to selectively and directly actuate the aligned actuable portions, said rotatable pattern member being movably mounted to permit one or another of said rows of selective means to be brought into said position as desired, said. row-providing means comprising a plurality of individually removable and replaceable inserts in each row, and means common to said rows to retain said inserts.

7. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism,said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements adjustably carried by said bed and having actuable portions adapted to be aligned, and pattern means constituting a part of said actuator mechanism and rotatable in response to said relative movement and formed to provide a multiplicity of rows of selective means each adapted when brought into a given position to selectively bear against the aligned actuable portions in a direction transverse to said bed and to set the same by a movement in said direction, said rotatable pattern means being movably mounted to permit one or another of said rows of selective means to be brought into said position as desired, and said actuable portions projecting outwardly from said settable elements in a direction away from said bed, so that only one of said rows will re alined therewith at a given time.

8. In a knitting machine comprising a needle bed and actuator mechanism, said bed and said actuator mechanism being mounted for relative movement, a series of similar needle jacm carried bysaid bed, pattern means constituting a part of said actuator mechanism and rotatable in response to said relative movement, said rotatable pattern means being formed to provide a plurality of rows of selective means each adapted for the selective and direct actuation of said needle jacks when in a given position, and means to bring various ones of said rows of selective means into said position at various times in the operation of said machine.

9. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said bed and said actuator mechanism being mounted for relative movement, a series of similar actuable elements carried by said bed, rotatable pattern means constia plurality of rows of selective means each adapted for the selective actuation of said actuable elements when in a given position, means to bring various ones of said rows of selective means into said position at various times in the operation of said machine, said positioning means comprising a control member having a single control element and carried on a support which is immovable with respect to said bed, said control member being movable between a plurality of positions, an adjustable member associated 'with said actuator mechanism and adapted to contact said control element when the control element is at least in a plurality of said positions and to be movable differently depending on which of the latter positions the control element is in so as to be adjusted from time to time during the operation of said machine in accordance with the variation in position of the control element, means to vary the position of said control element, means to bring various ones of said rows of selective means into said given position in accordance with the position of said adjustable member, and means to hold said adjustable member in an adjusted position.

10. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and having actuable portions .adapted to be aligned, pattern means constituting part of said actuator mechanism and rotatable in response to said relative movement and formed to provide a plurality of rows of actuator portions selectively disposed at desired ones of evenly spaced points about the periphery'of each row, and means to adjust the circumferen-;

tial position of said points so that said actuating portions will actuate said actuable portions. each of said rows being adapted when brought into a given position to selectively and directly actuate the aligned actuable portions, and said rotatable pattern means being movably mounted to permit one or another of said rows to be brought into said position as desired.

11. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements movably carried by said bed and having actuable portions adapted to be aligned, rotatable pattern means constituting a part of sald actuable mechanism and formed to provide a plurality of rows of selective means each adapted when brought into a given position to selectively actuate the aligned actuable portions, said rotatable pattern means being movably mounted to permit one or another of, said rows of selective means to be brought into said position as desired, said settable elements being formed with a forked portion having compressible means, and means to compress said compressible means to frictionally resist movement of said settable elements but to permit movement to be imparted thereto. said rotatable pattern means being adapted to selec- I tively impart a setting to said settable elements while the compressible means thereof is compressed by said compressing means.

star mechanism and formed to provide a plurality of rows of selective means each adapted when brought into a given position to 'selectively actuate the aligned actuable portions, said rotatable pattern means being movably mounted to permit one or another of said rows of selective means to be brought into said position as desired, said settable elements being formed with a forked portion having resiliently compressible prongs with edge surfaces at least one of which is curved, and said machine being provided with means to engage said edge surfaces and to compress said forked portions slightly to frictionally resist movement of said settable elements but to permit a swinging movement to be imparted thereto, said rotatable pattern means being arranged to selectively impart a swinging movement to said settable elements, while the forked portions thereof are compressed by said compressing means.

13. In a circular knitting machine, in combination, actuator mechanism, a needle cylinder, a series of slots in said cylinder, settable elements in said slots and having actuable portions adapted to protrude therefrom and to be aligned, rotatable pattern means constituting a part of said actuator mechanism, said rotatable pattern means and said cylinder being mounted for relative movement in a direction generally at right angles to said slots, said rotatable pattern means being formed to provide a plurality of rows of selective means each adapted when brought into a given position to selectively and directly actuate the aligned actuable portions, and means to bring one or another of said rows into said position as desired.

14. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and having actuable portions adapted to protrude outwardly therefrom and to be aligned, rotatable pattern means constituting a part of said actuator mechanism and adapted to selectively actuate the aligned actuable portions, said actuable portions carrying projections having inner edges facing toward said bed and adapted to be engaged by a setting cam for imparting lateral. movement. to the settable elements, and a setting cam forming a part of said actuator mechanism and arranged to extend between said inner edges and said bed to position said actuable portions for engagement thereof by said rotatable pattern means.

15. In a'knitting machine, a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bedand formed with hook-like portions, rotatable pattern means constituting a part of said actuator mechanism and formed to provide a plurality of rows of selective means each adapted when brought into a given position to selectively actuate aligned actuable surfaces of the settable elements, said rotatable pattern means being movably mounted to permit one or another of said rows of selective means to be brought into said position as desired, said settable elements being formed with a forked portion having resiliently compressible prongs with edge surfaces at least one of which is curved, and said machine being provided with means to engage said edge surfaces and to compress said forked portions settable elements to assure an accurate setting thereof, each hook-like portion having an outer surface adapted to be engaged by selective means in said given position to swing a settable element in one direction on the forked portion and having an inneredge which is adapted to be engaged by a cam to swing the settable element in another direction on said curved surfaces, and a cam forming a part of said actuator mechanism for engaging the inner edges of said hooklike portions.

16. A selective element for a knitting-machine comprising a forked end portion having resiliently compressible means adaptd to engage opposing portions of a machine in a manner which will permit the element to be swung on its forked end, but which willofier frictional resistance to movement of the element during a setting operation to assure an accurate setting thereof, and comprising also a projection including a portion extending laterally of the element and a portion extending from the aforesaid portion longitudinally of the element and having an inner surface disposed oppositely to a longitudinal edge surface of the element and adapted to be engaged by a setting cam disposed between said inner surface and said edge surface.

17. A selective element for a knitting machine comprising a forked portion having prongs which are outwardly resilient in the direction of the width of the element and formed with at least one curved surface, and a hook-like portion, the

outer surface of which is adapted to be engaged by pattern means to swing the element in one direction on the forked portion and the inner edge of which is adapted to be engaged by a cam to swing the element in another direction on the forked portion.

18. In a knitting machine, knitting element means comprising a base member having a laterally extending hook-like portion including a portion extending longitudinally of the base member, a surface on the outside of said hooklike portion for engagement with means to move said base member in one direction and a surface on the inside of said longitudinally-extending portion for engagement with means to move said base member in another directionf I 19. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and having a body-and actuable portions adapted to protrude therefrom and to be aligned, rotatable pattern means constituting a part of said actuator mechanism and adapted to selectively actuate the aligned actuable portions, said actuable portions carrying projections having inner edges extending in opposed relation to the body of the settable elements and adapted to be engaged by an aligning cam, and an aligning cam adapted to engage said inner edges to position said actuable portions for engagement thereof by said rotatable pattern means.

20. In a knitting machine a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by-said bed and formed with hook-like portions, selective means constituting part of said actuator mechanism, each hook-like portion having an outer surface adapted to be engaged by said selective means to move said settable elements laterally inone direction and having an inner edge which is adapted to be engaged by a cam to move the settable element laterall in another direction.

and a cam forming a part of said actuator mechanism for engaging the inner edges of said hooklike portions.

21. A selective element for a knitting machine comprising a forked portion having resiliently compressible means for engaging opposed portions of a machine to resist movement of the element during a setting operation to assure an accurate setting thereof, and comprising also a projection having an inner surface adapted to be engaged by a setting cam, said inner surface extending in opposed relation to the body of said element.

22. In a knitting machine, a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and provided with forked portions, each of said forked portions comprising resiliently compressible means, means for compressibly retaining said forked portions, said retaining means and said forked portions being formed to permit said settable elements to be swung on a pivot at said forked portions, and means forming part of said actuator means to swing said settable elements on their forked portions.

23. In a knitting machine, a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement, a series of settable elements carried by said bed and provided with forked portions, each of said forked portions comprising resiliently compressible means, means for compressibly retaining said forked portions, said retaining means including a portion associated with said actuator means, and said retaining means and said forked portionsbeing formed to permit said settable elements to be swung on said forked portions, means forming-part of said actuator means to set at least certain of said settable elements by imparting thereto swinging movement on their forked portions, and means forming part of said actuator mechanism for imparting longitudinal movement to at least certain of said settable elements at a given point in said relative movement, said portions and said retaining means being formed to resist longitudinal movement of said settable elements during the operation of said setting means, but to permit longitudinal movement of said settable elements during the operation of the means for imparting longitudinal movement thereto.

24. A selective element for a knitting machine comprising two portions spaced longitudinally of the element, one of said portions having a camenga'ging shoulder and the other of said portions being forked and having resiliently compressible means adapted to be engaged by opposing portions of a machinelin a manner which will offer frictional resistance to the movement of the element but which will permit the element to be swung to set the same.

25. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement; a series of settable elements each formed with a forked portion having compressible means,

settable elements in place, the compressing means 75 being arranged to maintain said frictional r ance to retain said settable elements in the positions in which they are left by said selective means.

26. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative movement; a series or settable elements each formed with a forked portion having compressible means, means to compress said compressible means duringat least a part of said relative movement so as to trictionally resist movement of the settable elements, means operative during the operation of said compressing means to position said settable elements for a setting operation, said positioning means being operative to move said settable elements in spite oi said frictional resistance, selectingmeans operable upon the settable elements, said frictional resistance of said compressing means serving to retain the elements in position for action by said selective means.

27. In a knitting machine comprising a bed and actuator mechanism, said actuator mechanism and said bed being mounted for relative move-' elements during the continued operation of said compressing means to move certain of said settable elements to a set position and to leave others of said settable elements in place, the compressing means being arranged to maintain said frictional resistance thruout the operation of said positioning means and said setting means.

VINCENT LOMBARDI. 

